Squawk Box Europe Express

The A.I. stock sell-off continues with U.S. futures suggesting a day in the red. Investors now await the U.S. jobs report later today. President Trump signals that a Ukraine peace deal is ‘closer now than we have been, ever’ causing European defence stocks to tumble. However, any breakthrough on Ukrainian territorial issues remains a major sticking point. In crypto news, Bitcoin claws back some ground lost after sinking below the $86k-mark in yesterday’s session – its lowest level of the year.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

European markets are set to open in the green following Friday’s A.I.-led stock sell-off ahead of a variety of data prints and rate decisions later in the week. Ukraine abandons demands for NATO membership with peace talks continuing in Berlin. Security is increased at Hannukah events worldwide following the massacre of 15 people by two I.S.-inspired gunmen on Bondi Beach, Sydney yesterday.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UK GDP data for October disappoints coming in at -0.1 per cent month on month with services output falling by 0.3 per cent. Oracle shares tumble to their lowest level since January as investors show their concern over the company’s A.I.-related splurge but global markets reached new record highs during yesterday’s session with the S&P 500 breaking through the 6,900-point mark for the first time. Disney and Open A.I. join forces in a $1bn deal with the entertainment giant licensing its characters to feature in the Sora video creation app.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Fed delivers a rate cut - but the most significant dissent in six years, and division over the policy outlook, reveal a split within the central bank. Nasdaq futures falter as Oracle's data centre spend surges, sending the stock down by double-digit percentage points in extended trade - as Norway's Sovereign Wealth fund shows caution on investing in the infrastructure. Bitcoin slips, briefly dipping below $90,000 and extending a fourth quarter downturn as traders brace for a potential crypto winner. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Markets fully price in a 25-basis point cut at today’s Federal Reserve meeting, while deep divisions within the central bank put investors on edge about the potential for easing next year. Chinese consumer prices rise at their fastest level in two years, but factory gate prices remain in deflation territory for the 38th month in a row. Donald Trump condemns European leaders as ‘weak’ and says they ‘don’t know what to do’.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Federal Reserve is deeply divided over its December rate decision as hawkish commentary around the FOMC’s two-day meeting causes jitters among investors. President Trump is set to authorise exports of Nvidia’s H200 chip to ‘approved’ customers in China with 25 per cent of sales to be paid to the U.S. government as part of the agreement. Paramount has launched a last-minute $100bn offer for Warner Brothers Discovery in an attempt to thwart Netflix’s acquisition. Paramount CEO David Ellison says a deal with Neflix could potentially destroy Hollywood.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Investors anticipate a Fed Christmas rate cut later this week with other central banks’ final policy meetings potentially following suit. Soaring Chinese exports to the EU push the country’s surplus beyond $1bn for the first time. Outbound shipments are up almost 6 per cent on the year with French President Emmanuel Macron threatening to slap tariffs on Beijing. Swiss lender UBS could soon benefit from the loosening of a banking regulation package which would otherwise require it to raise an additional $24bn in capital.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Global bond yields rise amid complicated pictures in the USA and Japan. Treasurys saw yields rise on stronger U.S. jobs data, while deepening expectations of a rate hike by the BOJ sees JGB prices fall. Elsewhere, Netflix has reportedly won the battle over Warner Bros Discovery; and Meta shares rise on reports the company is planning sweeping cuts to its ‘metaverse’ unit, a former darling of CEO Mark Zuckerburg.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

European markets are cautiously optimistic as weaker U.S. payrolls data overnight boosted hopes of a Fed rate cut next week. It’s a heavy day for geopolitics – French President Emmanuel Macron is in Beijing for a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, with focus centered on expanding partnership and deepening understanding amid increased trade tensions. Elsewhere, the European Commission presented the details of its plan to use frozen Russian assets to help finance Ukraine. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Risk sentiment is reentering markets this morning after AI optimism fueled gains in the U.S. overnight. Also in recovery is Bitcoin, which is surging higher following a week of brutal loses. On the geopolitical front, Russia and the U.S. failed to reach consensus on a deal to end the war in Ukraine, despite five hours of talks in Moscow. Elsewhere, two big AI names, Anthropic and OpenAI, in focus – Reports suggest Anthropic is in early talks to launch what would be one of the largest IPOs in history next year; while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman issued a companywide ‘code red’ memo this week, warning employees over increasing competition in the chat bot space.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

November was a whirlwind month for cryptocurrencies, and it seems that volatility is carrying over into December with Bitcoin posting its worst single day decline since March yesterday. Meanwhile, the head of the U.K.’s budget watchdog resigned after the OBR accidently released its report ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget last week. And in an exclusive interview with CNBC, the Bank of England’s Megan Greene laid out her outlook for the economy, and what she’d need to see in the labour market and inflation figures to prompt a rate cut.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Markets eye a cautious start to December with risk-off sentiment still very much in play amid AI valuation fears and continuing weakness in cryptocurrencies. U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces fresh scrutiny as claims swirl that she misled the public about the state of the country’s finances ahead of the budget last week. Progress continues over Ukraine – U.S. officials met with Ukrainian negotiators over the weekend, while a U.S. delegation heads to Russia to hammer out the details of a peace deal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. markets return following the Thanksgiving holiday but a technical glitch at a CME Group data centre impacts futures trading across equities, treasuries and commodities. European markets see out a turbulent month of November having seen large moves within the tech, health and defence sectors. The Nasdaq break a seven-month winning streak due to ongoing concerns around A.I. stock valuations. Russian President, Vladimir Putin comments on Ukrainian-American peace efforts, saying the talks could form the foundation of a future agreement ahead of next week’s talks with Hungarian PM Viktor Orban and the U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves raises the tax burden to an all-time high in her autumn budget, calling them ‘her choices’. Markets, however, remain sanguine with gilts falling and sterling pushing higher. German sportswear brand Puma sees shares surge on reports of a takeover bid from Chinese giant Anta Sports. And at the Adopt A.I. Action Summit in Paris, we hear from Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury who says European aerospace and defence companies are enthusiastic about scaling up to lead the way into what could become a new global space race.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves is forewarning the country of ‘necessary choices’ to fill a £30bn fiscal hole ahead of her much anticipated high-stakes Budget later today. The Dow enjoys its best session since August, boosted by reports that Alphabet chips are attracting interest from social media giant Meta. Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy says he is ready to progress on a revised peace plan for his country and is pushing for in-depth talks with President Trump later this week.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. tech stocks start the new week in the green and the Nasdaq notches its best day in 6 months with Alphabet shares approaching the $4tn market valuation mark. The U.S. and Ukraine put forward a revised peace plan following 2 days of discussions in Geneva but the most contested points remain to be finalised by both presidents. The talks will now reportedly move to Abu Dhabi with a delegation arriving from Moscow. The UK’s fiscal watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, is set to downgrade the country’s growth outlook a day before Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ high-stakes budget.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. and Ukraine find common ground on an ‘updated and refined’ peace agreement but the deal comes under criticism from President Trump and questions grow as to its origins. Markets on both sides of the Atlantic are set to begin the new trading week in the green as NY Federal Chairman John Williams suggests a rate cut could be imminent following a weakening employment print. And in mining news, BHP says it will abandon a last-ditch bid for rival Anglo American following news of a revised second offer more than a year and half since its initial approach  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. markets experience their largest single-day reversal since April with the Nasdaq plunging from a high of 2.5 per cent to end the session more than 2 per cent in the red. Following a strong jobs report, investors are now cutting the odds of a final interest rate cut for the year next month. Asia has followed suit overnight with tech stocks selling off while futures in Europe also point south. A U.S.-brokered peace agreement for Ukraine will reportedly demand key concessions from Kyiv which could include ceding land it currently controls as well as giving up its bid for NATO membership.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nvidia beats expectations in Q3 earnings and guides beyond projections for 2026, sending shares up 5 per cent in after-hours trading. CEO Jensen Huang remains sanguine about over-stretched A.I. valuations. A relief rally moves through global equities and Bitcoin. Chip makers in Asia see shares rise as a result while European and U.S. futures point higher for the session ahead. President Trump slams Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell over inflation and urges Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to help bring down interest rates.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tech stocks continue to sell off Stateside while Europe’s Stoxx 600 ends yesterday’s session at a one-month low and the DAX plunges to its lowest level since June. Chip giant Nvidia results are due after the bell today with analysts anticipating a sharp rise in sales amid any signs of an A.I. bubble. President Trump hosts Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, calling the Kingdom ‘a major non-NATO ally’. Trump also struck an optimistic tone regarding the expansion of the Abraham Accords to foster stability in the Middle East.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.